Major revamp project for Pannal Village Hall

Martyn Wilson and Pat Fitzgerald signed the contract alongside the project team.

And now work has finally started on the long awaited and eagerly anticipated extension and refurbishment of the village hall to upgrade community facilities and increase capacity of the hall.

The grand ambitious scheme, which is funded with grant aid from FCC Communities Foundation and Action with Communities in Rural England will provide a new meeting room, extra storage space and new toilets plus a new entrance gallery with improved access to all rooms.

FCC Communities Foundation is a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community, conservation and heritage projects, from funds donated by FCC Environment through the Landfill Communities Fund and Scottish Landfill Communities Fund.

Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) is a registered charity which represents 38 member groups (formerly known as rural community councils) who make up England’s largest rural network.

Village Hall chairman, Pat Fitzgerald, said: “It’s been a long hard struggle but at last we are able to make a start on these improvements to overcome our access and capacity problems and give the community a high quality facility that all ages can enjoy.”

C K Batchelor Ltd of Harrogate have been awarded the contract, which will run through the summer and complete by the end of September 2020.

They will undertake the works while the hall remains open for community activities though these are limited.